AVENIR: A Sustainable Vision for Senegalese Agriculture

During this session, Dr. Issa Ouedraogo – the Alliance’s Country Representative for Senegal – presented the AVENIR project (Adaptation and Valorization of Entrepreneurship in Irrigated Agriculture). Funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented in collaboration with MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), this initiative aims to improve the socio-economic well-being and resilience of farming households in the country’s Tambacounda and Sédhiou regions. The seminar serves as a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among experts and participants.

Faced with major challenges such as land degradation, food insecurity, and climate change, AVENIR proposes a model of climate-smart agriculture and agricultural entrepreneurship. The project focuses on the diversification of crops with varieties adapted to local conditions such as rice, okra, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and tree crops like baobab, cashew, and papaya. These crops are supported by drip irrigation systems and advanced integrated water management technologies.